Tracheotomy cannula and supporter thereof

ABSTRACT

A tracheotomy cannula and a supporter thereof. With the tracheotomy cannula comprising a combination of a relatively stiff outer tube made of a resin and a similar inner tube made of the same material adapted to be inserted into said outer tube, it is possible to remove phlegm and the like sticking to said inner tube after said inner tube is twisted and withdrawn from said outer tube. The supporter adapted to hold the tracheotomy cannula with said outer tube being inserted through larynx into trachea of a human body is made of a soft material and has a holder portion peripherally supported by thin membrane for a better fitness in use.

United States Patent Akiyama Sept. 5, 1972 [54] TRACHEOTQMY CANNULA AND I FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS SUPPORTER THEREOF 408,292 9/1966 Switzerland 128/351 [72] Inventor: Taichiro Akiyama, 404-44,

Shimoochiai, l-chome, Shinjuku-ku, OTHER PUBLICATIONS Japan Advertising Brochure of Shiley Medical Products, 22 il Oct 5, 1970 Santa Ana, California, Copyrighted September 1970.

[21] Appl' 77865 Primary Examiner-Channing L. Pace Att0rneySteinberg & Blake [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 6, 1969 Japan ..44/9449s [57] ABSTRACT A tracheotomy cannula and a supporter thereof. With [52] US. Cl. ..128/35l, 285/200, 285/225 the tracheotomy cannula comprising a combination of [51] I'gto a relatively stiff outer tube made of a resin and a 0f inner tube made of the sarne material adapted to be inserted into said outer tube, it is possible to [56] References Cited remove phlegm and the like sticking to said inner tube HUT-E NTS after said inner tube is twisted and withdrawn from D STATES T said outer'tube. The supporter adapted to hold the JI'. X tracheotomy cannula outer tube in- NlChOlS- serted through into trachea of a human is a has a 3,106,916 10/1963 Matthes ..l28/35l X peripherally supported by thin membrane for a better 3,169,529 2/1965 Koenlg ..128/351 fitness in 3,334,631 8/1967 Stebleton 128/351 3,556,103 1/1971 Calhoun ..128/351 X 8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures P'A'TEN'TEDsEP 5 I972 U 3.688.774

sum 10F z' INVENTOR I AKYAMA ATTORNEYS PATENTEDsEP 5 m2 3.688.774

sum 2 or 2 INVENTOR A HIR0 AKIYAMA BY wa ATTORNEYS TRACIIEOTOMY CANNULA AND SUPPORTER THEREOF BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION thereto since it is usually connected to trachea of a human body as a part of this human trachea. An artificial trachea of conventional type has had various problems in maintenance of cleanness since the trachea itself has no function of ejecting said phlegm and the like sticking thereto. Thus, an improvement in maintaining its cleanness has been seriously desired for the tracheotomy cannula which is adapted to be inserted, from exterior of a human body, directly into larynx and connected with the human trachea in order to permit the patient to breathe the atmosphere.

According to the present invention, a tracheotomy cannula comprises a combination of inner and outer tubes wherein said inner tube is substantially same in configuration and slightly smaller in outer diameter with respect to said outer tube adapted to be held by a supporter so that the combination of these two tubes is held as being inserted. With such an arrangement, it is possible for a patient to withdraw from the outer tube and clean the inner tube whenever desired. The problem is maintaining cleanness of an artificial trachea is effectively overcome. The outer tube must fit a part of human body in holding said outer tube on the front of neck. It is desired especially when the tracheotomy cannula is put on that the outer tube should adapt itself to any movement of the neck as the face is turned aside or upward and thereby any sense of a foreign substance due to putting the tracheotomy cannula should be reduced as far as possible. The supporter according to the invention which is adapted to be held by a belt circling the neck is itself made of a soft material and, in addition, includes a portion for holding said outer tube which is formed of so soft a membrane that any twist or movement of the neck is absorbed by this membranous portion as the face is turned aside or upward and any movement of the head is not transmitted to the tracheotomy cannula whereby any pain or sense of foreign substance may be reduced as far as possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The first object of the present invention is to provide a tracheotomy cannula comfortable in use wherein an important part may be easily inserted or withdrawn for maintenance of cleanness.

More specifically, this first object of the present invention is to relieve the patient from a mental burden otherwise imposed by operation of washing and disinfection through an improvement such that only the inner tube may be withdrawn and inserted from and into the outer tube which remains inserted into a human body whereby substantial wash and disinfection may be achieved without any direct contact of said important part to be withdrawn and inserted with human trachea. Furthermore, this object includes an improvement such that said operation of insertion and withdrawal may be easily carried out even with one hand the the tracheotomy cannula may be held on a predetermined position without being undesirably projected when put on.

The second object of the present invention is to provide a tracheotomy cannula adapted torelieve the patient from sense of a foreign substance during putting it on, and more particularly, a tracheotomy cannula with which, even when the tracheotomy cannula is put on, a movement of the head above the neck is transmitted to the neck without giving the patient either pain or sense of foreign substance due to the movement transmitted to the neck around which the tracheotomy cannula is put on.

The third object of the present invention is to provide a tracheotomy cannula which is resistant to any change in quality of the material used otherwise possibly caused by the treatment such as wash and disinfection and stands long use.

According to this invention, therefore, the tracheotomy cannula comprises, instead of a single tubular member, a curved outer tube adapted to be connected directly to the human trachea and an inner tube of a substantially same congifuration and of a slightly smaller outer diameter with respect to said outer tube wherein said inner tube may be inserted into said outer tube and, in inserted position, be engaged at the outer end thereof with the outer end of said outer tube. Both these outer and inner tubes may be made of a relatively hard resin. Moreover in accordance with the present invention, the supporter of said tracheotomy cannula adapted to directly support the outer tube as inserted therethrough may be made of a relatively soft resin and a thin membranous portion is formed inside a thick frame-like portion of said supporter so that the outer tube is passed through an opening formed in said membranous portion and held at the outer end thereof by this opening. Thus both these outer and inner tubes may be held at the predetermined position even when the supporter somewhat tilts due to movement of the neck since the supporter freely tilts because of an effective flexibility of said membranous portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The present invention will be understood more in detail in reference with an embodiment of the invention as illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a tracheotomy cannula consisting of two tubes;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the tracheotomy cannula as shown by FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tracheotomy cannula with the inner tube withdrawn from the outer tube; I

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a supporter for holding the tracheotomy cannula; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tracheotomy cannula as put on a patient.

3 DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 through 3 illustrate the tracheotomy cannula of the most preferred form in accordance with the present invention. In these figures, an outer tube is generally designated by a numerical reference 11 and an inner tube is generally designated by a numerical reference 17. These two tubes are made of a hard resin, preferably of fluoric resin and the like. These two tubes, when made of fluoric resin, are highly resistant to heating, boiling and corrosion by medical fluid, so

they are well adapted for treatment including wash and various kinds of sterilization or disinfection. The inner tube 17 is of an outer diameter slightly smaller than inner diameter of the outer tube 1 l and of same curved configuration as said outer tube 11 so that insertion of the inner tube 17 into the outer tube 17 establishes a closed fitted relation between these two tubes 11 and 17 as shown in FIG. 2.

The outer tube 11 is inserted, with its inner end 12 ahead, through a hole of the neck communicating with larynx into the human trachea. Outer end 13 of said outer tube 11 is provided with two flanges l4 and suitably spaced from each other so that these flanges are opposed to one another. An annular portion formed between said two flanges 14 and 15 is held by a supporter as will be described below. The flange 15 is provided at a part thereof with a cut or notch 16 which allows a locking piece 24 mounted on the inner tube 17 in the manner as will be described below to pass through the notch 16 to form a bayonet type of connec tion. A curved portion of the outer tube 11 has a vent hoe 25.

An inner end 26 of the inner tube 17 is inserted through an opening of the outer end 13 of the outer tube 11 along the inside of said outer tube 11. The outer end of said inner tube 17 is provided with two flanges 19 and 20 suitably spaced from each other so as to be mutually opposed and a locking ring 21 is loosely fitted around an annular portion formed between these flanges l9 and 20 in such a manner that said ring 21 is rotatable along a cylindrical surface of said annular portion. Although said locking ring 21 may be conveniently made of suitable metallic material, it is preferable from the viewpoint of resistance to treatment such as disinfection by medical fluid that said locking ring 21 is molded of the same resinous material as the two tubes 11 and 17. This locking ring 21 adapted to be rotated between the flanges l9 and 20 has two knobs 22 and 23 opposed radially with respect to said locking ring 21, which are adapted to be held together by fingertips. On the other hand, the locking piece 24 is formed by folding a portion extending from said locking ring21 so as to be engaged with the flange 15 of the outer tube 1 1. 7

Thus, the locking piece 24 is opposed to the cut 16 of the flange 15 depending on the rotating position of the locking ring 21 after the inner tube 17 is inserted into the outer tube 11 and may be passed through said out 16 beyond said flange 15. As the locking ring 21 is rotated from the state that the locking piece 24 is between the flanges 14 and 15, said locking piece 24 comes into engagement with said flange 15 along the rear surface thereof, preventing the inner tube 17 from being withdrawn. In the state that the locking ring 21 is engaged with the flange 15, said locking piece 24 occupies the position as shown by a broken line in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates a supporter adapted to support the tracheotomy cannula comprising said inner and outer tubeswhich is passed therethrough. As shown by FIG. 4, this supporter is provided with elongate holes 34 longitudinally adjacent opposite ends thereof, respectively, through which a belt 32 is passed and put on by fastening said belt 32 around the neck. The supporter generally designated by a numerical reference 35 is preferably made of synthetic resins such as silicone resin, vinyl chloride and polyethylene or synthetic rubber such as Neoprene for a better touch in putting on and, especially in view of the softness, the heat-resistance and the innocuousness to human body, it is most preferable to be made of silicone resin.

The supporter 35 is peripherally surrounded by a thick frame 27 inside which a supporting portion 28 is formed as a thin membrane. The supporting portion 28 in form of thin membrane is desirably soft and tough as far as possible. Said supporting portion has a central opening 29 through which the outer tube 11 as previously described is inserted. The parts of said supporting plane. 28 that are continuous to the frame 27 of opposite sides are provided with elongate openings 34, respectively, through which a belt 32 is passed and, if desired, outer thick portions surrounding these elongate openings 34, respectively, are incised so as to form open slits 31 and 31 along which the belt 32 may be slipped into said openings 34, respectively. FIG. 5 illustrates the manner of putting the tracheotomy cannula on with the inner tube 17 withdrawn. When said inner tube 17 is being washed, the tracheotomy cannula is in the state as illustrated by FIG. 5. To insert the inner tube 17 thereinto, the inner end 26 of said inner tube 17 may be inserted through the opening of the outer tube 11 corresponding to the center of the flange 15. The inner tube 17 once inserted is further advanced until the locking piece 24 is passed through the cut 16 and subsequently the locking ring 21 is rotated by holding the knobs 22 and 23 with fingertips until said locking piece 24 is brought into engagement with the flange 15 on rear surface of said flange 15.

It will be obviously understood from the aforegoing description that, with the tracheotomy cannula and its supporter according to the present invention, the softness of the supporter which is in contact with human skin during putting on allows the patient to easily and comfortably wear it even in cold winter season without feeling cold, to keep the relative positions between the tracheotomy cannula and the human trachea substantially constant during putting on against any movement of the head above the neck and therefore to be effectively relieved from any pain and sense of a foreign substance due to a relative movement between the tracheotomy cannula and the human trachea. Another feature will be also readily understood that not the entire tracheotomy cannula but only the inner tube may be removed from the human trachea for operation such as wash and disinfection when phlegm and other secretion heavily sticks on the inside of the tracheotomy cannula.

Although a preferred embodiment of the tracheotomy cannula and its supporter according to the present invention has been described hereinbefore in reference with the annexed drawing, it should be noted that various modifications may be considered, if desired, within the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A tracheotomy cannula comprising outer and inner curved tubes made of relatively hard resin with said inner tube being adapted to be inserted into said outer tube; and a soft supporter having an opening through which said outer tube extends so that said outer tube is held in said opening, said supporter being made of a soft material and including a relatively thin flexible membraneous support portion surrounded by a thick frame and said opening being formed through said support portion.

2. A tracheotomy cannula and its supporter as.

defined by claim 1, wherein said inner tube is provided at an end with two opposed flanges suitably spaced from each other, a releasable ring rotatably mounted between said two flanges, said releasable ring being formed with a releasable piece, said outer tube also being provided at an end with two opposed flanges suitably spaced from each other, the latter two flanges including an outer flange formed with a notch through which said releasable piece of the releasable ring may pass to provide a releasable connection between said tubes.

' 3. A tracheotomy cannula and its supporter as defined by claim 2, wherein the securing ring rotatably mounted around the inner tube is provided with opposed knobs.

4. A tracheotomy cannula and its supporter as defined by claim 1, wherein both the inner and outer tubes are made of fluoric resin.

5; A tracheotomy cannula and its supporter as defined by claim 1, and said supporter being formed with openings each surrounded by said thick frame portion at opposite ends of said membranous support portion, through which abelt for wearing the tracheotomy cannula may be passed.

6. A tracheotomy cannula and its supporter as defined by claim 1, wherein the supporter is made of material selected from the group consisting of silicone resin, vinyl chloride, polyethylene and Neoprene.

7. A tracheotomy cannula consisting of inner and outer curved tubes made of fluoric resin and a supporter made of silicone resin adapted to hold one of said curved tubes at an end thereof, said inner tube of the tracheotomy cannula being of an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of said outer tube so that said inner tube may be inserted into said outer tube, said inner tube being provided at an outer end thereof with opposed flanges suitably spaced from each other and a securing ring rotatably mounted between said opposed flanges, said securing ring including a securing piece, while said outer tube is provided at an outer end thereof with opposed flanges suitably spaced from each other and is formed at an outer one of the latter flanges with a notch, through which said securing piece included in said securing ring may pass so that said securing piece may be brought into engagement with said outer flange to form a releasable connection; and said supporter including a flexible membranous support portion surrounded by a thick frame, and formed with an opening so as to hold said outer tube, and said supporter being formed with openings each surrounded by a thick frame at opposite ends of said membranous support portion, through which a belt for wearing the tracheotomy cannula may be passed, said outer tube being formed at part of its urved wal withavent ole, and sai thick fra bei formed with outer sli ts communicating with sa i openings, which are surrounded by said thick frame, and said securing ring having a pair of opposed knobs to be grasped by the operator to facilitate turning of said ring.

8. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said outer tube is formed at a part of its curved wall with a vent hole. 

1. A tracheotomy cannula comprising outer and inner curved tubes made of relatively hard resin with said inner tube being adapted to be inserted into said outer tube, and a soft supporter having an opening through which said outer tube extends so that said outer tube is held in said opening, said supporter being made of a soft material and including a relatively thin flexible membraneous support portion surrounded by a thick frame and said opening being formed through said support portion.
 2. A tracheotomy cannula and its supporter as defined by claim 1, wherein said inner tube is provided at an end with two opposed flanges suitably spaced from each other, a releasable ring rotatably mounted between said two flanges, said releasable ring being formed with a releasable piece, said outer tube also being provided at an end with two opposed flanges suitably spaced from each other, the latter two flanges including an outer flange formed with a notch through which said releasable piece of the releasable ring may pass to provide a releasable connection between said tubes.
 3. A tracheotomy cannula and its supporter as defined by claim 2, wherein the securing ring rotatably mounted around the inner tube is provided with opposed knobs.
 4. A tracheotomy cannula and its supporter as defined by claim 1, wherein both the inner and outer tubes are made of fluoric resin.
 5. A tracheotomy cannula and its supporter as defined by claim 1, and said supporter being formed with openings each surrounded by said thick framE portion at opposite ends of said membranous support portion, through which a belt for wearing the tracheotomy cannula may be passed.
 6. A tracheotomy cannula and its supporter as defined by claim 1, wherein the supporter is made of material selected from the group consisting of silicone resin, vinyl chloride, polyethylene and Neoprene.
 7. A tracheotomy cannula consisting of inner and outer curved tubes made of fluoric resin and a supporter made of silicone resin adapted to hold one of said curved tubes at an end thereof, said inner tube of the tracheotomy cannula being of an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of said outer tube so that said inner tube may be inserted into said outer tube, said inner tube being provided at an outer end thereof with opposed flanges suitably spaced from each other and a securing ring rotatably mounted between said opposed flanges, said securing ring including a securing piece, while said outer tube is provided at an outer end thereof with opposed flanges suitably spaced from each other and is formed at an outer one of the latter flanges with a notch, through which said securing piece included in said securing ring may pass so that said securing piece may be brought into engagement with said outer flange to form a releasable connection; and said supporter including a flexible membranous support portion surrounded by a thick frame, and formed with an opening so as to hold said outer tube, and said supporter being formed with openings each surrounded by a thick frame at opposite ends of said membranous support portion, through which a belt for wearing the tracheotomy cannula may be passed, said outer tube being formed at part of its curved wall with a vent hole, and said thick frame being formed with outer slits communicating with said openings, which are surrounded by said thick frame, and said securing ring having a pair of opposed knobs to be grasped by the operator to facilitate turning of said ring.
 8. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said outer tube is formed at a part of its curved wall with a vent hole. 